Events

A Journey of Hope and Contemplation in Oil Pastels by Cacti Circle

Venue: Hot Numbers, Gwydir Street, Cambridge CB1 2LJ, United Kingdom

Dates: 8th July 2024 to 19th August 2024

Origin of the present sketches

During the lockdown, away from my home country, I was living alone in a small studio with hardly any sunlight. I filled sketchbooks after sketchbooks in my spare time. Eventually, I began making some abstract and figurative drawings on my mobile phone screen using my fingers as a pencil.

In the following year, I lost all my belongings in the UK in a fire, including my sketch books. But thankfully, some of the lockdown-sketches were saved on my mobile phone which inspired me to create more in similar style.

In this exhibition, I have recreated some of those sketches on paper using oil pastels.

Message

Initially, I did not have any specific message to convey. I would draw anything that came to mind and leave it open to interpretations. But gradually, these drawings gained more voice and started reflecting aspects of my life and my beliefs.

I aim for my drawings to embody hope in life. I often incorporate a flower here and there to represent hope that needs to be kept alive in life. But even as one is struggling to feel hopeful, there is still more to life and plenty of colours around for us to absorb.

Thank you for taking interest. Please find details of the exhibited artworks as following.

Artworks

All drawings are on Fabriano Black Black paper of 300 GSM. Medium used is oil pastel only.

NOTE: The objective is not to show what I see, but to invite you to see what you want to. Each piece is open to interpretations.

A2 (420 x 594 mm)

Beach

Details: Showing top view of a beach with a boat close to the shore. White dots represent people. This can be hung in any orientation.

Inspiration: A longing for beach.

Mother and Child

Details: Mother or similar parental figure, with her child. Viewed from a distance, their heads form eyes. The child can be seen looking up to the mother and also looking away. In both scenarios, mother is there to protect and guide.

Inspiration: Wanting to depict a maternal bond while also forming a human face.

Introspection

Details: One real person and the other is the reflection separated by a mirror. This is an intimate exchange between the two where the person is in a somewhat distraught state.

Inspiration: Self-care and compassion. To be kind and gentle towards oneself.

Monday/ Work-life balance

Details: Work-life is an integral part of our lives and Mondays can often be challenging for some. Here, the vase of flowers and books on the table show a work-life balance that must be reflected on. Cracks may exist but there must be hope and support.

Inspiration: Personal reflections on work-life balance.

Table for One, Please

Details: Top view of a table where only one seat is occupied, featuring pizza, water (or a beverage of your choice), and a menu card (which can be a newspaper instead). Trying to capture the essence of solo dining.

Inspiration: Personal experiences of dining alone, challenging societal perceptions.

A3 (297 x 420 mm)

Ponder

Details: This is along the similar theme of introspection. The box or the window looks out at nothing, encouraging deep thoughts. Flower represents hope – there is always hope.

Inspiration: I often find myself in a similar state of mind.

By the Window in a Yellow Dress

Details: Girl is in a yellow dress sitting by the window. It is a gloomy day but she is in a bright attire, lost in thought.

Inspiration: Other than being a mathematician, I always wanted to become a fashion designer too. One day. Here I wanted to draw a croquis with some additional context.

10,000 Personalities, Only One’s Real at a Time

Details: Each one represents a version of ourselves. The grey one is the current version. Flower represents hope and the core truth about ourselves that bind each personality together.

Inspiration: How different facets of personality are presented to and perceived by people.

Life’s Bigger

Details: The person is looking at the wilted flower. However, upon looking up and around, there is more to life as shown by the colourful dots. In fact, there are some life-altering beautiful moments waiting to be experienced as represented by the green dots.

Inspiration: My friend was having a hard time, and this was meant for her.

A4 (210 x 297 mm)

How Delicate is a Flower// As Much as a Human Heart

Details: This is one of the first sketches I made. There is a crack in the hand but holding onto hope symbolised by the flower. The caption captures the importance of being gentle with oneself.

Inspiration: I was holding onto hope myself and stayed optimistic.

Only the Side Face. Only

Details: Shows just the side profile of a face, but the eye is empty and expressionless. There is a lot to tell but here is a beautiful side face for now. The dots are flowers.

Inspiration: I felt I was not understood well enough.

Coral

Details: Colourful coral formations under the sea.

Inspiration: Climate change. They are the pillars of marine life but losing colour. Also, an alternative name to Cacti Circle was/is Coral Circle, reflecting on the parallels between cacti and corals.

Balloon Seller

Details: Just a solo balloon seller waiting to sell balloons representing joy and innocence.

Inspiration: The animated film Up where the house gets lifted by balloons. Beautiful film. I watched it in the hall with my parents. Good memory.

A Letter I Wrote

Details: An old-fashioned letter that has been written and ready to be sent. Shows an old form of communication to be in touch with close ones.

Inspiration: This was inspired by a letter I wrote in September 2021.

Price list in GBP as displayed at the café. All framed.
(Negotiable on purchase of over 100 GBP.)